Apple Vision Pro makes our eyes hurt, say disappointed customers

Two weeks after the launch of the Vision Pro and something unusual is happening around an Apple product: customers are declaring they will return it.

Some users are taking to social media to explain why the $3,500 headset is going back to the store, citing headaches, heaviness, loneliness and even burst blood vessels. Apple allows customers to return products within 14 days — a window that closes on Friday.

The Vision Pro has been promoted as an entertainment and productivity device, where users can immerse themselves in films, videos and photos and create a virtual office before their eyes.

Many have praised its technical quality and the way it is controlled using the eyes and hands.

However, some have complained about its weight and comfort. “Can’t wait to return the Vision Pro, probably the most mind-blowing piece of tech I’ve ever tried. Can’t deal with these headaches after 10 minutes of use though,” said Rjey Tech, a YouTube reviewer from Toronto.

A similar sentiment came from a member of Reddit’s Vision Pro forum called nindesk, who posted: “Absolutely loved it, but it was too heavy, causing neck pain.” The headset weighs up to 680g, depending on the configuration.

Parker Ortolani, a product manager at The Verge website, posted on Threads: “I have developed a large bloody blotch on my right eye. Thanks Vision Pro!”

He later said: “What a bummer of a day. Can’t believe it, but I’ve returned the Vision Pro. Just too uncomfortable to wear and it’s a strain on my eyes. It’s clearly the future. It works like magic. But the physical trade-offs are just not worth it for me right now. I’ll be back for the next one, assuming they fix these comfort issues.”

John Grant, a VR expert who works for the US Defence Intelligence Agency, wrote on LinkedIn: “I just returned my personal Apple Vision Pro headset. It is an amazing device, but generally for personal use at its price point isn’t for me.”

UrbanExtant posted on Reddit that despite the “wow factor” he and his wife found it isolating. “I had this dreadful sense of loneliness and guilt that I’d ignored my entire family all night.”

Apple is predicted to sell 600,000 headsets this year, according to Dan Ives, an analyst for Wedbush Securities, and there are no hard figures on the number of returns, making the extent of the backlash difficult to gauge.

There were also many positive reviews online: “Loving my Apple Vision Pro so far. It’s clear to me that this will be a major new paradigm of computing. I’m all in,” one person posted on Reddit.

Leander Kahney, editor of Cult of Mac, noted: “I don’t remember early adopters returning new iPhones, AirPods or even recent Apple silicon machines. The phenomenon seems restricted to Apple Vision Pro.”

He added that an “unscientific” poll his website was conducting showed only 55 per cent of respondents planned to keep the device, which could suggest “a massive number of returns”.

However, Mike Wuerthele, managing editor of AppleInsider, countered: “So far, based on the data that I have, there’s not a noticeable difference at the two-week cut-off than any other product. Yes, folks are returning, sure. There’s always some.”

• Apple Vision Pro gets rave reviews — but Tim Cook won’t predict future

Leo Gebbie, a connected devices analyst at CCS Insight, said: “It’s no real surprise to hear reports of discomfort from people who have bought a Vision Pro. Our research has consistently found that the weight of these devices, and users feeling sick when using VR, are pain points which put people off using the technology. This is a problem facing the VR industry overall, not just Apple.

“Apple may have exacerbated this problem by its insistence on a premium design philosophy. The Vision Pro uses materials like aluminium and curved glass to achieve a beautiful aesthetic, but these add on weight.

“There’s a chance that these people are actually suffering from buyers’ remorse. $3,500 is an eye-watering amount to spend on an experimental new product, and perhaps the buyers have found that the Vision Pro isn’t doing enough to justify its lofty price tag.”

One person adding to the criticism is Mark Zuckerberg, who sought to promote his rival device, the Meta Quest 3 (£480, 515g), by reviewing the Vision Pro. Unsurprisingly he concluded: “I’m pretty surprised that Quest is so much better for the vast majority of things that people use these headsets for with that price differential.”

The Vision Pro is on sale in the US only and is expected to be released worldwide later this year.

Apple was approached for comment.